Doha: The National Human Rights Committee (NHRC), in collaboration with Qatar University (QU), has launched a research competition for graduate and undergraduate students across the university's colleges and research centers. The contest, which runs from February 19 to March 20, focuses on the societal effects of narcotic substances.
According to Qatar News Agency, Hamad Salem Al Hajri, Director of the Programs and Education Department at NHRC, emphasized that drug use and addiction contribute to large-scale humanitarian crises, disproportionately affecting the most vulnerable groups, particularly the youth. He further highlighted that the United Nations has identified drug use as a violation of five key human rights areas: the right to health, rights related to criminal justice, the prohibition of discrimination especially against ethnic minorities and women, the rights of the child, and the rights of indigenous peoples.
Al Hajri noted that research proposals submitted for the competition should not exceed 300 words and are preferably written in Arabic. Participants may explore the research topic from various perspectives, including social, health, economic, and legal dimensions, as long as they establish a connection to human rights and ensure the research is relevant to Qatari society. He underscored the importance of originality, stating that submissions must be specifically prepared for the competition, unpublished in any form, and compliant with scientific research standards, ethical guidelines, intellectual property rights, and proper citation practices.
Regarding the awards, Al Hajri announced that the winning research papers will be revealed at the Fourth National Forum of the NHRC, an annual event dedicated to key national human rights issues. A scientific committee will select three winning papers in the postgraduate category, awarding QAR 10,000 for first place, QAR 8,000 for second place, and QAR 6,000 for third place. Similarly, three winners will be selected in the undergraduate category, with prizes of QAR 5,000 for first place, QAR 4,000 for second place, and QAR 3,000 for third place. Research proposals, along with the required application materials, including the CV of the candidate(s), should be submitted to [email protected] within the specified deadline.